Kayla Ramer

Lens 2

February 19, 2013

Stargirl- Reader-as-Writer

Reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli as a young adult would have changed some of the ways I would have thought

about others in my younger years. I believe having young adults read a book like this would allow them to see that

all people are different and can dress and act in they way they feel most comfortable and still be able to fit into

the "normal" population. Although Stargirl herself did not start out being accepted by all students in the school,

she chose to be her own person and let others decide whether or not they like her or not. Having young readers

read a book such as Stargirl will give them the idea that it is okay to be yourself. I believe that allowing the

reader to be a writer as well, will help not only the reader by giving them a chance to look at the story more in

depth but will also give the reader time to write his or her own ideas on the same topic. What I found interesting

was that literature in history was pretty much obvious and was written about what was expected by others as stated

in The Pleasures of Children's Literature (81). I feel as though all the problems were written about in earlier times

but not to the extent that they are today. Problems such as "fitting in" or "getting along with others" was written

about, but on a much smaller scale. Today problems are written and dealt with in the open and shared to help

others without fear of giving out too much information or writing something that was taboo.

Writing about what you are reading will help with the understanding of the story. Sometimes young readers can

benefit from taking notes as they are reading the story so that they can remember the important points that

happen from one chapter to another. Students can also benefit from writing their own story of their lives trying to

fit in with others especially through middle and high school. Stargirl gives young readers a chance to share their

own observations and feelings because reading this story will allow them to feel okay with the idea of writing and

talking about fitting in and being an individual at a young age. This topic is touchy for all adolescents because it is

so hard to fit in with others at the middle and high school level. By having a chance to write their own story of

becoming their own person is extremely powerful for all to become an author of.

After reading the book Stargirl, young adults can write a story of how they are becoming their own person and

the problems that come with it. Growing up and becoming friends with others that they originally may never have

thought they would be friends with. Writing the ideas down will help not only the author but could very well help

other students to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Using the Reader-as-Writer idea will definitely help

readers become better at understanding themselves and how to, in this case, fit in with peers and live their own

lives without doing what others feel is normal or right.